2008 Jeep Liberty goes back to Cherokee look
With the 2008 Liberty now completely undressed at http://www.allpar.com/trucks/jeep/liberty-2008.html, we can see that the new look harkens back to the old look; the new Liberty looks remarkably like the beloved old Cherokee. And who said retro was out of fashion?
Speaking of retro, we now have two conflicting PT Cruiser rumors. One says the model is gone in 2009; the other said it is merely moving to the Avenger/Sebring platform so it can finally get a V6, and along the way differentiate itself further from the (less popular) Chevy HHR. We hope Chrysler won’t move even further away from the classic charm that has made the PT endearing to so many (along with its reasonable price tag and extreme usability). And hey, guys, if it’s too cheap to be a Chrysler, how ’bout making it the only Plymouth? Then you can admit that PT means Plymouth Truck. (Either that or it’s simply the Truck version of the PL body.)
I, too hope that the PT won’t move further away from it’s classic charm.
If moving the PT to the Avenger/Sebring platform brings to it a V6, and
makes it the size on a small minivan. Great, I like the ease of parking
that my SWB minivan affords. And if DCX is going to eliminate these, it may be helpful to have a replacement. Not only that, I really like the styling of the PT, the biggest reason for not buying one, is that I’ve never had a vehicle that samll … yet.
I’d really like it if they added the PT Cruiser Panel Van and keep a manual
transmission in the lineup.
If they do bring back Plymouth I certainly hope that it’s not exclusive to the PT Cruiser.
The new Challenger provides the platform for a new Hemi ‘Cuda. Need I say more.
Why not just make a Chrusler Cuda
If the ‘08 Liberty looks like the old Cherokee,
why not change the name back, too.
Reasons:
*better sales
*same name/marketing here AND overseas
*what’s the point of having a Grand Cherokee
without a Cherokee??
As a PT Fan to the bone, i really REALLY hope they dont kill the model, the platform its greate, they could update the engine’s like useing the World Engine Turbo for the GT (i dont care if they dare to call it PT SRT-4), and non turbo for the Touring and base…kust forget that CVT’s exist please, update the safety features (ESP, TRAC Control, Roll Mitigation, BAS, etc etc etc., Rely on the 2006 face lift for at least 3 more years, learn how tu reduce the weight of the caliber platform, and then, just then release a brand new PT CRUSIER on 2010 with NO CVT PLEASE.
On the main Subject of this WEB LOG:
I kinda liked the new liberty 2008, how ever it looks to close to a NITRO (DOH) i loved the Commander head lamps, i hate the loss of the spare wheel at the back, i know that some times it was not the better place for it, but its one of the best signatures of a capable off roader, of even better (remember the CJ’s) with two spare tires one of each side of the vehicle, bring back that concept with one spare at the back and other below the trunk, u can handle two flat tires at the rubicon trail…. ;)
i just hope the interior does not look as cheap as the nitro´s, not that the nitro’s interior is bad but the liberty´s interior is far much better.
Regards
The Commander style headlights I could do without. I liked the KJ’s Wrangler-like headlights. I do like that the 2008 model does not look as “cute” as the KJ and maybe it can kick the Xterra’s booty. I do not like that this is really the first Jeep to have a corporate sister (Nitro). One of the great things about Jeep is that they are unique, even with sharing Chrysler engines and transmissions, the bodies and platforms were primarily Jeep. Another thing I hope does not happen is the sissyfication that has happened to the Grand Cherokee. Meaning, don’t shove a “T-bar” style four wheel drive selector. The 05 Grand Cherokee made me worry about Jeep, and the Compass is not helping my view. I should not have to step up to a V8 Grand to get a true 4×4 system. I hope the 2008 Liberty still has at least Selec-Trac.
I think the sales of the old Cherokee would be difficult to support with all of the existing small SUV options of today. I am going to miss the Jeep-ness of the look and size of the original Liberty which is closer to the Cherokee in size. The new Liberty looks like it will be larger and therfore probably heavy - more than the 4000 lbs of the existing liberty. Thats why the new 4 liter engine will be necessary. Chrysler needs diet food for the design teams.
Here’s a WILD idea:
Just put the 3.7L or 3.8L V6 in Patriot !!
Than Patriot Idea its technically almoust impossible, the Patriot its a Caliber Platform Front Weel Drive, so, u have no transmision tunel, or rwd system room, HOW EVER, if u want a Rally Type of Jeep, an SRT-4 Compass or Patriot would do just fine with the 300hp that DCX got from the World engine turbocharged, with a manual transaxle, and AWD…, SWEET.
Regards
Nice to see Jeep adding a little “manliness” back into the Libby (perhaps Dana 44’s and air lockers will follow?)…ok, I I know that’s not going to happen. Anyway, it’s interesting to see many of the Jeep vehicles morph from offroaders into mainstream vehicles (gotta give the masses what they want I guess). They’re still making Rubi’s though, so that should be enough to placate the hardcore fans (I know I’d rather have an Unlimited Rubi than Liberty or Compass)…nothing like a bouncy ride, a noisy roof, and malfunction gauges (err…maybe they’ve fixed their electrical oddities at this point).
or the 2.7L at least…?
I don’t know how to respond… I do like the new Liberty style BUT! some of the things are just so not rigth. Otside: great headlight assemblie but what about that ugly turnsignal. It is almost like an aftertought, looks bad. Tail ligths: so ’80’s look, looks bad. Interior:( I have seen one picture of it) again so not inspiering, lame ’80’s look, bad. Powertrain: not bad for this type of truck but Jeep should step into the now and have a better trany. How about a standard five speed automatic to improove fuel milage.
Overall, I don’t think that this new redesign will result in great sales numbers, it could use some more innovative in your face Jeep toughness, but by the looks of things this is the final product, so we will have to live with it, may be next time…. may be
I like the look so far. The camo hides the huge flares though. Ford’s 2008 Escape has cheap materials, their exterior design better, but still not enough. The new Liberty is what will get my paycheck. Boxy is good and will definetely get noticed in this years compact suv market. Fabric roof?! not a good idea. Glass panel roof would be better and still appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. I wish people would stop comparing the aesthetics to the Nitro though. It really is more a mini-commander and will get a very large city population that can still park their car and go off-road on the weekends.
Anymore pics?
Even with the 08 it still doesn’t look at all like the jeep cherokee. i don’t know whos been advising daimler about the jeeps and what their customers want, but i think its time they find some new people. First, daimler claimed “the commander appeals to cherokee fans” I’m a cherokee fan and i couldn’t care less about the commander, and i happen to know that just about every cherokee can out there has the same feelings as me. Even if daimler managed to make it so the liberty actually DID look like the cherokee, which it really doesnt. its too big, too high, the fender flares are either too bulky or it comes with far too small tires, and with the fender flares, one thing alot of us cherokee fans liked was how you could tell they weren’t actually a part of the body, and it gave it a four wheeler look. the liberty has far too much of a new car design to it. and the grill is so off as well. so if they managed to recreate the look of cherokee by changing all of that, then it still wouldn’t be enough. we’d need our 4.0 I6, MECHANICAL comand or selec trac transfer case, none of that electronic switch. cut the weight, take out all of that extra stuff on the inside, like the buttons on the wheel, the excessive design elements in the dash, and that bar on the passanger side on the glovebox. if daimler could manage to do all of this, which would be recreating the cherokee, a TRUE jeep which is a small, powerful suv with just the essentials, giving it more capabilities then anyone could expect, they would have one problem. the vehicle their feebly atempting to turn into the legend they killed was the vehicle that killed it. you can’t take somthing away from us and then try to give us somthing else that is claimed to be similar. the only chance your company has of surving the next decade, at least for the jeep line up, is to burn any and all records of having made the liberty, throwing out the compass, comander, and the grand cherokee and bring back the legend for real, making it the exact same as it was from 87 models on down, you know, the time period when Jeep was respected, being a much more responsible company had control of it. Start over at the begining. just stick with the cherokee, wrangler, and maybe give us back the comanche.
Shawn, hate to tell you this, but I live in a Detroit suburb and I saw the Liberty for the first time last Friday when I went out to a local Italian eatery. Had a Manufacturer’s plate and…CHEROKEE badge on the door trim, instead of Liberty. Also has CRD diesel badge on the rear. Kicking myself for not getting pictures. Saw one today with the Liberty badge.
I HATE the 2008 Liberty. I have a 2002 Liberty and love it. Love the look, feel, length, heighth. The 2008 looks boxy-yuck. They should not call it a liberty. Liberty is dead.